"Mercy" is a soul song performed by Welsh blue-eyed soul singer Duffy, released as the second single from her debut album, Rockferry. Co-written and produced by Steve Booker, the single was released over 2008 worldwide to critical acclaim and unprecedented chart success. Duffy's first international release, the song is credited to have firmly established the singer's career and is now considered her signature song. The song has been compared to Duffy's previous soul-styled single, "Rockferry". Critical reviewers of "Mercy" have noted similarities between the songs to work by Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield and The Supremes, as well as contemporaries such as British singer Amy Winehouse.

"Mercy" was nominated for various awards in 2008, including the prestigious Grammy Awards, in which the single received the nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[2][3] Well-received by the public, "Mercy" went on to become the third-best-selling-single of 2008 in the United Kingdom, with sales of over 500,000 copies in the UK that year.[4] The song achieved worldwide chart success. The music video on YouTube has been viewed over 28 million times.[5]

Duffy has attributed the success of the song to the fact that "everyone is searching for liberty ... from themselves or from the world they’ve created around them" and "everyone would like to be set free".[6]

The song has since been covered several times since its original release, most notably by the cast of television series Glee. Their version reached music charts in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Writing and inspiration

"Mercy" was written by Duffy and Steve Booker during the final stages of completion for Rockferry.[6] In an interview with Mojo, Duffy noted that she "felt something was missing and 'Mercy' was that missing thing", saying that herself and Booker were "writing it literally at the end, when the strings were being put on 'Rockferry' and 'Warwick Avenue".[6] Duffy and Booker first met during a chance meeting in a flat in Ladbroke Grove, where Booker's wife introduced the two. Duffy has later noted of the experience:[6]

"We went for coffee and I had this gut feeling that we should write together. I asked Jeanette [Lee] what she thought and she just said, we’ve made this record so go and have fun, be creative. By the end of hanging out in the studio for two weeks we had 'Mercy' and 'Stepping Stone'."

Duffy had already written the lyrics to "Mercy" before her meeting with Steve Booker, although she has since said that she "never [has] a plan as that always fails", in reference to the writing of the song.[6] Duffy has noted that during recording with Booker, "Mercy" "was like this melodic poem in my mind, which I just had to get out, and I knew exactly what I wanted it to sound like".[6] She has also said that they "built the song from the bottom up", also noting that it is "very important that my songs start from an organic source, rather than a drum loop".[6] When asked of the lyrical meaning of the song, Duffy said:[6]

"The lyrics were about having a feeling towards someone, whether it’s a romantic feeling or just some chemistry that you don’t want, and you desperately want to be released from that feeling."

According to Duffy, "Mercy" is autobiographical and is about "sexual liberty" and "not doing something somebody else wants you to do".[7] The singer has also said in an interview with Observer Music Monthly that she sings "Mercy" "several times a day and it's just like having sex every time".[8] However, the singer has expressed fear "about saying what a song is about" because she felt that the lyrical interpretation is her "issues and baggage and when someone else listens to the song it isn’t about my baggage anymore it’s about their baggage".[6] According to Mark Edward Nero of About.com, the song is "a tale of lust".[9]

Lyrically, "Mercy" is about "intense longing for an attractive guy". Mark Edward Nero of About.com noted that "[although] the song sets the stage for who Duffy is as an artist as well as a person" it was "still fairly tame, lyrically".[9] The BBC Chart Blog compared the song to Aretha Franklin's "Chain Of Fools" and "Where Are You Baby?" by Betty Boo.[12]

The introduction to "Mercy" samples the opening bars of "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King. The sound is slightly different to that of "Stand by Me", however, because "Mercy" uses 1 5 and b7, instead of 1 5 and major 7. This change creates a "bluesey" sound. The song is written in the style of a 12 bar blues, using the chords I, IV and V.

Critical reception

"Mercy" garnered almost unanimously positive reviews from critics, often being praised for its catchy baseline and "summery", jazzy themes. Digital Spy gave the single a positive review, noting that the single was "a catchy, danceable Northern soul pastiche" and that the "baseline practically reeks of sweat and stale cigarette smoke".[13]The Times in a review for Rockferry said that "Mercy" is "a slight but darned catchy number" and "a classic radio hit".[14] The reviewer also drew comparisons between "Mercy" and Amy Winehouse's critically acclaimed single "Rehab".[14]The Independent said that "Mercy" and "Rockferry" "are tracks that stand out as something special", whilst noting that the "uptempo organ funk" provides "the album's one truly memorable groove".[15]PopMatters said that the song was "still grounded in a bouncing Motown rhythm but [with] the added colour of jaunty keyboards", whilst again comparing the song to "Rehab".[16]

The Observer, in an extremely positive review for Rockferry, said that "Mercy" "is a big, booming, finger-wagging sashay worthy of the Supremes".[17] In a positive review for Rockferry, American music magazine Billboard said that "Mercy" "is about as summery as summery gets".[18]NME, giving Rockferry a negative review, had a mixed attitude towards "Mercy", comparing the song's "Austin Powers organ" to work by Aretha Franklin.[19]Slant said that the song has a "bass-heavy syncopated beat, "Yeah, yeah, yeah" refrain [and an] obvious '60s-pop frame of reference". However, the song was given negative comparisons to Amy Winehouse.[20] "Mercy" also appeared on various critic's "Top" lists. Bill Lamb of About.com placed "Mercy" at number 29 in a list of his favourite 100 songs of 2008.[21] Fred Bronson of Billboard placed "Mercy" at number two,[22] whilst the magazine's Keith Caulfield placed "Mercy" in an alphabetical list of his favourite songs of 2008.[23]

"60's pop star Dusty Springfield is smiling from beyond every time Duffy opens her mouth to sing."

"Mercy" won the 2008MOJO Award for Song of the Year.[6]MOJO editor Phil Alexander called the song a "timeless" classic that "could really have come from any period in time over the last 50 years".[24] The single was nominated for a BRIT Award in 2009, for Best British Single.[25] Duffy's performance of "Warwick Avenue" at the ceremony helped to increase sales of "Mercy" by double the market average before the broadcast.[26] The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award in the category "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance".[2][3] The song was also nominated during various award ceremonies including the MTV Europe Music Awards (Most Addictive Track),[27]Q Awards (Best Track)[28] and the 2009 Music Producers Guild Awards (UK Single of the Year).[29] "Mercy" was also nominated for PRS for Most Performed Work and Best-selling British Song at the 2008 Ivor Novello Awards,[30] winning in the former category.[31] The song was the fourth most played anywhere in the United Kingdom in 2009, revealed in a list compiled by music body PRS.[32]

Chart performance

Duffy performing at the SOS 4.8 Festival in Murcia.

"I think I’m a bit all-over the place, I can't quite handle it. I was aiming for top 40, possibly top 10, so I can genuinely tell you I am really blown away."

Duffy, speaking to the Daily Post North Wales after the song reached number-one in the UK.[33]

Following "Mercy"'s release in the United Kingdom, the song charted at number-one on the UK Singles Chart due to digital downloads alone on 17 February 2008, three weeks before the physical release of the single.[34] The song eventually remained at the top of the chart for five consecutive weeks,[35][36] eventually becoming the year's third-best-selling-single in the UK,[4] selling 536,000 copies in 2008 alone.[37] The song remained inside the UK Singles Chart for over one year.[36] One of the B-sides to the song, titled "Tomorrow" reached a peak position of 192 on the UK Singles Chart.[38]

Internationally, "Mercy" became Duffy's first single to chart on the American Billboard charts. "Mercy" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 87.[39] On the chart date 22 May 2008, the single reached its peak of 27 on the Hot 100, becoming the chart's greatest digital gainer of that week, selling 59,000 downloads.[40] The song also topped the magazine's Eurochart Hot 100,[34] spending in total six weeks atop the chart, including four consecutive weeks.[41] "Mercy" also reached other Billboard charts, including number 3 on the Japan Hot 100,[42] number 27 on the Pop 100[43] and 13 on the Hot Digital Songs.[43] The single was also a minor dance crossover success, reaching a peak of 35 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart,[43] as well as peaking at a position of sixteen on the Adult Pop Songs chart.[44] In the United States overall, "Mercy" was certified Platinum for sales of one million copies by the American recording industry association, the RIAA.[45] In Canada, "Mercy" debuted at number 94 on the Canadian Hot 100 on April 12, 2008,[46] eventually peaking at 11 on April 23, 2008.[47]

"Mercy" entered the Australian ARIA Singles Chart at number 50 on the issue date of 4 May 2008,[48] reaching a peak of 26 nearly five months later, on 14 September 2008, after staying on the chart for eighteen weeks.[49] Despite it's small impact on the Australian charts, the single was the 72nd-best-selling-single of 2008,[50] and was certified Platinum for sales of 70,000 copies.[51] "Mercy" debuted on New Zealand's RIANZ singles chart at 40,[52] eventually peaking at number four.[53] The single was the 30th-best-selling-song of 2008 in New Zealand,[54] where the song carries Gold certification, for sales of 7,500 copies.[55]

Music videos

The main version of "Mercy" shows Duffy standing on top of a platform inside a large hall whilst men dance around her.

The main-release music video for "Mercy", directed by Daniel Wolfe,[61] features Duffy standing on top of a platform performing the song. Featured in the video are Northern Soul dancers who dance to "Mercy". Choreographed by Natricia Bernard,[61] the dancing involves elaborate moves, including the use of fire. "Mercy" was nominated for two awards at the UK Music Video Awards, for "People’s Choice Award " and "Best Pop Video".[62] The music video was released to the UK iTunes Store on 26 January 2008, being the first release of "Mercy".[63] In reaction to the video, RealMusic noted that Duffy "does manage to stand atop those platforms very well and sing without falling off in [the] video, so top marks for that".[64]

A second music video release was made for the United States market, directed by Adria Petty.[65][66] It shows Duffy performing live on stage whilst people dance to the song. The US version was given a positive review by Nick Levine of Digital Spy, who wrote that "It's glossy, full of young, good-looking types and proudly features a drum with Duffy's name printed on its skin - hey, that's success for you."[67]

Cover versions

Glee cast version single cover.

"Mercy" has been covered several times since its release. In 2008, American band OneRepublic recorded a version of the song which was first heard as a live cover on the BBC Radio 1Live Lounge. Their version of the song later appeared, in live format, on the band's third single "Say (All I Need)".[68] OneRepublic then recorded a studio version of "Mercy" as a bonus track for their sophomore album Waking Up. Note that the track is not to be confused with another OneRepublic song and single, also titled "Mercy" and released on their first studio album, Dreaming Out Loud.

The Fratellis also recorded "Mercy", mixed with the Minder theme tune, specially for broadcast on the Live Lounge.[69] Duffy herself also recorded "Mercy" live for the Live Lounge. In the broadcast, the singer also sung a cover of Hot Chip's single "Ready for the Floor".[70] British production team The Third Degree recorded a version, released March 9, 2009 on the Acid Jazz label as a 7" vinyl record. Singer John Mayer also covers the song as a slow blues in many of his live shows.

The cast of the US "musical comedy" television series Glee covered the song for the third episode of the first series, "Acafellas".[71] The cover was called "leg-splits-over-shoulders exciting" by The Wall Street Journal.[72] The Glee cast's cover version was released as a single worldwide to promote the series, and reached numbers 94[73] and 49[74] on the UK and Irish singles charts, respectively.

Singapore Idol runner-up, Sylvia Anne Ratonel, covered this song twice. The first time she covered this song was during the second piano show. The second time she covered this song was during the Grand Finals.

Remixes

Duffy has expressed that it was "fascinating to see people picking up on it ["Mercy"], taking it and creating something from it for their genre".[6] The singer told Mojo that her favourite remix of the song is The Roots remix, calling it "amazing" and saying it "blew [her] away".[6]